Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton waited for Halloween to announce their skeleton team for the upcoming World Cup season, and in true Halloween style they decided to introduce the team in skeleton costumes while visiting Dr. E.W. Coffin School in Calgary, Alberta.
The parade of athletes includes 2010 gold medallist Jon Montgomery, who took off last season to physically prepare for the 2014 Olympic Games.
Also in the parade was 2006 bronze medallist Mellisa Hollingsworth, who placed fourth in 2010 after leading the field for the first three of four runs. She's recovered from her disappointment, and last season ranked second overall with two gold medals, two bronze medals and two fifth-place finishes as well as a silver medal at the World Championship.
The women's national skeleton team will be comprised of Hollingsworth, Sara Reid — who is improving from season to season and came close to the podium several times with five top-10 results last year — and newcomer Cassie Hawrysh. Amy Gough, who finished last season ranked seventh — is still sidelined with post-concussion symptoms.
On the men's side, Montgomery is joined by Eric Neilson and John Fairbairn. Neilson had two top 10 finishes during his rookie season last year, while Fairbairn is improving steadily.
"This is a unique group of athletes that has been making significant progress and continues to push harder each day in an effort to keep the maple leaf on the Olympic, World Championship and World Cup podiums in skeleton," said head coach Duff Gibson.
The World Cup bobsleigh and skeleton season launches in North America this month.
The first event is at Lake Placid from Nov. 5 to 10, followed by Park City from Nov. 12 to 18 and Whistler from Nov. 19 to Nov. 25.
